Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Wanderer

I traded secrets for wheat
baubles and shiny things
Meanings trapped in word machines
The sheen from off the surface
preventing deeper gazes
I become the wanderer 
looking for my place
The race is on
I traded thoughts for a song
and the love of a red-haired maiden

I'm heading home tonight.  Whenever I go on "vacation", I always think that I'll have time to get all this stuff done.  I'll catch up on some work, I'll read all these books, play a bunch of guitar, watch a bunch of netflix, get my exercise in, sleep in, go out... It's pretty unrealistic.  Especially if I'm only going to be on vacation for 4 and a half days.  One thing I want to do is read as much of the Prydain series as possible.  The books are short and meant for kids... and Eilonwy.  Peace out.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

merry go round

I took a turn on the merry go round
up and down
on fair horses caked in decades of paint
I took off my shoes 
to jump in the lake
letting the cold wetness wash over my body
I faint and wake upon a beach
and wonder how this ball ended up in my lap

Today's piece was a real stretch.  I really just wanted to talk about how most great things in people's lives really just ended up in their lap. In a few years, I might be running running my team at work.  I didn't really work for it.  It just sorta ended up in my lap.  My workplace assigned mentor is doing well.  I found out a couple months ago that he went to highschool with the son of our CEO.  Most married people had their spouses delivered to them in nice baskets left on their door steps.

I find it a little annoying when people who had things just land in their lap give advice to people about how to have a life full of the same great things like theirs.  People who worked hard to get the things in their lives are too busy working hard to take the time to give unsolicited advice.  Peace out.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Thief

She said to strike a pose
and with a flash she stole my soul
captured on silver halide crystals
At least that's what I would have thought
if I lived in the noughts of the last century
But instead, she held captive a moment of time
the shirt I was wearing and the cut of my hair
bags under my eyes and a crack of a smile
From time to time she would look at it for a while
trying to figure out my thoughts and dreams
but it would seem that I still own my secrets
moving targets 
impossible to capture on film
the thief sits there in disbelief
as I move on to the next frame

This was a piece that I've been threatening to write for a while now.  It was an idea that I stole from someone else.  I don't actually remember the exact idea, but this was the idea that popped into my mind when she mentioned her idea.  Something about photography and crime.  Hahaha, when I write that out, I don't believe that was the idea at all.

It's funny how memories aren't something concrete, etched in stone.  Memories are a little more fluid.  And photographs are only a cheap imitation of reality.  They can only capture the light bouncing off objects, but they can't capture the intangibles, the emotions, the feelings.  Peace out.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Free Time

I found myself with two hours of precious free time
and knew I didn't want to waste them
so I sat and thought of all the things I could do
As a favour to my eyes, I could take a nap
As a favour to my heart, I could go for a run
As a favour to my mind, I could do yoga
to my brain, I could sink deep into the couch and watch tv
to my fingers, I could dance them across the fret board
to my future self, I could work on my penmanship
Time slips and slips

I dunno.  I was having a philosophical conversation yesterday about how there is a hierarchy of acceptable things to do during your free time.  Watching tv shows (especially soaps) are deemed a waste of time.  A nap is acceptable based on the audience.  Why is reading a book better than watching tv?  Is playing a video game with a friend slightly better than playing a video game by yourself?  Is playing video games with your kids better than going for a walk?  How about a walk vs doing chores around the house?  How about sprawling out on the floor, staring at the ceiling and actively listening to your favourite album?  Why is there value writing in your journal about the past when you can be doing something in the present?  At the end of the day, I say I dunno.  Do whatever you want.  Peace out.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Ducks

I did my push ups and learned to throw a ball
swallowed my pride even when it was hard to
and said my prayers at night
I read all the great books so we'd have stuff to talk about
and even dabbled in music until I developed callouses
I tried my hand at art
may it be graphite or prose
Trying to get all my ducks in a row
I worked my whole life 
for love at first sight

I was listening to a Blue Jays baseball podcast this morning (in case she's a blue jays fan) and the host said something along the lines of "worked their whole life to be an over night success".  It reminded me of my poem about investing in things and how it takes so much time to be develop the skills to a point where you are great at anything.  Of course, knowing me, I twisted it into working hard to be loveable at first sight... even though, in all honesty, I think I'm more of an acquired taste.  Peace out.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Tapper

A life trapped in words
discouraged
I hold onto the escalator rail
head reeling
denying the feeling in the pit of my stomach
as if it was an annoying neighbour
that would leave after a few knocks if you were quiet
I sigh and rattle the rail in dots and dashes
to the girl with the lashes and red framed glasses
"I'm new to the city and I think you're pretty"

I was in a meeting with this girl for the first time last week.  I felt like she was really playing it up to try to impress this other guy at the meeting that I knew she didn't know.  My coworker looked at me and she gave me this like sly smile cause I think she thought I was checking her out.  In reality, I was just zoned out cause I was thinking about all the work I had to do from a previous meeting.  I knew I didn't have any interest in her because when I was thinking about it later, I realized I didn't check to see if she had a ring... anyways, I just thought of her because I thought she had really weird clumpy lashes.

Anyways, again... I had this random thought today as I was going up the escalator at the Ctrain stop.  When I went to grab the escalator rail, it moved a little and I thought, "I wonder if I could communicate via morse code by shaking this rail in a controlled manner?"  Super random, I know.  I wonder what message I would communicate. I wish I had paid more attention when I was getting my ham radio license.  Look me up people.  My call sign is VE4DGT.  Peace out.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Change

What am I doing here?
Repeating the same mistakes
Crispy chicken skins
Red, bloody steaks
I've danced this dance
This isn't strange
Here's my chance
To invoke real change

I've been listening to this health podcast lately and I'm in this fitness kick right now.  But I keep making the same mistakes.  I keep going for the wrong girl.  Wait?  I see what you did there.  Peace out.